Method for making striped rubber sheeting



@et 19 1926. m

J. STEEN METHOD FOR MAKING STRLPED RUBBER SHEETING Filed Jan'. 30, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l @at l@ 1926, 1,603,812

J. STEEN METHOD FOR MAKING STRIPED RUBBER SHEETING Filed Jan. 3o, 1924 s sheeis-sheet 2 @m w, ma, I www2 J. STEIN METHOD FOR MAKING STRIPED RUBBER SHEETING Filed Jan. 30, 1924 5 sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR v5); ATTORNEYS recon senin, or new ro, n'. r.

nnrnonron nannte srierrnn essere ennemies.

Ltpplicaton led January 30, 1924. Serial No. GSWLEJD.

'This-invention relates to a novel rubber product and to a method and apparatus by which it may be produced. The product .referredto is striped rubber sheeting either with or Without a backing sheet and consists of a plurality of ditferent colored strips which are united autogenously along their abutting edges to produce a homogeneous sheet off'uniform strength and thickness. method and apparatus are intended to permit such a product to be continuously formed in a. single operation so that masses sheet, made according to this practice, consequentlyfconsists of a backing sheet and many vvindividual strips cemented to it. 'llhe production of such material is diiilcult and eX- pensive by vreason of the care which must be taken in ceinenting the strips in place, and the finished product is not of uniform thickness throughout. Furthermore, the application of the strips bymeans of cement' is unsatisfactory since under certain conditions the cement may become loosened and" the strips will then he displaced. ln this method the rubber materials employed. are vulcanized prior to the formation of the finished product.

ln another method for the production of this type of material rubber in an unvul- 'canized form is'sheeted out and sheets of the unvulcanized rubber of the desired colors are laid face to face and passed beneath a knife mechanism which maires a cut erM tending through the length of the sheets.

`lin this cutting the edges of the two sheets are forced together and united. ritter the material has passed beneath the knife, the two sheets are opened upand laid dat so' as to lie substantially in the same plane, and

thereafter they are passed through rolls which flatten the sheets at the line of union-"By reason of the manner in which the sheets are not the edges are united it Will :be seen that connected altogether' byA the adhesion of their edges, but this union is, in part, producedby the adhesion to of portions of the faces of the two sheets which lie in contact. After the formation of a pair of connected strips the process must t be repeated to add a third strip, and even. tually by repetition, up tothe desired Width. lt Will be seen that this is unsatisfactory and consumes much time. Also the individual strips 'are not bound firmly together' and there is liable to be an added thickness of the material i@ along the joint.

llt will be seen that according to both of the processes yabove briedy described the manufacture of the striped rubberysheeting is not continuous g that of the colors which are to appear in the tinished product must first be formed and these sheets must then be cut into strips of the desired Width and thereafter connected together to form the finished sheet. The formation of this finished sheet, therefore, is altogether separate from the process by which the original sheets of contrasting colors Were produced and, therefore, the finished sheeting may be said to be formed by two major steps, @5

in one of which sheets of dierent colors are formed and in the other, these sheets are cut into strips which are to be united. Also, the

finished product is, in the one instance, formed of strips cemented to it so that throughout t ese strips the sheet has an increased thickness, while according to the other process,the iinished product also has regions of increased thickness resulting from the manner in which 95 the strips are connected together.

The present invention is intendedto provide a striped rubber sheeting which is homogeneous, and of uniform strength and thiclrness throughout. regions of Weakness due tovariations in thiclrness or due to the manner in `afhich'the strips of which it is formed are connected together., Ivthe invention also involves the provision of a method and apparatus for wt production of this material and according to this method the finished rubber sheet is formed from the plastic rubber mir in a single operation; that is to say, that the plastic rubber is formed into strips of the M@ desired contrasting colors and as an incident to the formation the strips are united into ythe sheet may be built oo is, sheets of material to a bachingsheet and aY pluralit of uo rfhis'slfieeting has no too titi Q messia a sheet which becomes the finished product Without further cutting, cementing or operations. ot ya similar character. rllhis method produces the sheeting continuously and elim inates one step or the old processes above briel'ly referred to.

@ne form of the apparatus by which this method may be practiced consists of a calender mill provided with a pair of rolls ot the usual construction. rhis mill is, of the type ordinarily used tor sheeting out the plastic rubber compound, but associated with these rolls in the present apparatus, is a block having an extension which is given a contour such that portions of the extension will lie against the laces of 'the rolls. The block is formed in such a way that supplies ol' the plastic rubber are maintained in Contact with the rolls but in separated relation and the extension is formed with a plurality ot` channels which, with 'the surfaces ot' the rolls, form feeding passages. ythese channels taper in Width and, at their discharge ends, the Width of the channels corresponds closely to the width of the stripes which are to appear in the finished sheet. The discharge end of the extension is located close to the bite ot the rolls and the discharge ends ot the channels are placed in such relation) as to cause strips ot' contrasting colors to be ted between the rolls so that these strips will assume the positions required bythe pattern to be produced. 'l` he supplies otrubber ol dili'erent colors maintained in separated relation by the bloclr, lie in contact with the surfaces of the rolls so that as the latter are rotated the rubber compound is forced forwardly by the rolls through the channels and thus discharged between the rolls in strips. rlhese strips are then subjected to the action of heat and pressure by the 'rolls which results in their union into a single sheet.`

".lhis sheet will be-seen to be composed of strips which are preformed and which are discharged substantially in a plane. The strips are united autogenously and are connected only 'through the extent olf their adjacent edges. No portions ot the faces el the strips come into contact so as te taire any part in their union. Consequently the sheet is ot uniform thickness throughout and' no foreign materials are; required in its production. Also a sheet having stripes et' several colors may be toi-med in a single operation. and, by proper selection ot the channels in the extension of the block, the

'stripes appearing in the l'inished sheet may be ot any desired width and arranged acn cording to any desired pattern. lllie apparatus 'is capable of adjustment so that not only may'the strips be formed in any desired width, but they may also be ot' any selected thickness so that by this apparatus a finished sheet of any desired pattern and weight may be produced. Since the operation by which the striped sheet is formed is a continuous one, a. sheet ot indefinite length may be formed and this is a point of considerable advantage over the previous processes in which the diliculty ot handling the material cuts down the sii/.e in which the iinished products may be produced.

ln another-form et the invention the rolls themselves are not used for the feeding ot the plastic rubber and its Jrormation into strips. il. suitable feeding apparatus is provided lor this purpose which may take the form ot a screw which leeds the plastic rubber mix through passages in a block similar to that previously described. @ne oi more screws may be provided i'or each kind of rubber which is to be used and the passages hare discharge outlets which are located in an extension ot the block lying between the bite ot the rolls. rlhese discharge outlets are located in proper relation so that the rubber 'fed through them may take the position required according ,to the pattern, and the strips formed by the passage ot the plastic material through the passages are subjected to heatl and pressure in the rolls so as to unite them into the iinished sheet. l desire to point out that in referringto this'sheet as tinisl ed l. mean i'inishcd so tar as the production ot its pattern is concerned. The sheet which comes from the rolls must, of course5 be later subjected to a vulcanizing process before it is ready 'or use.l as is the case Whenever-'plastic rubber compounds are sheeted out in such a machine.

ln the accompanying drawings l have illustrated that embodiment ot the invention which l now prefer7 and in these drawings,

Fig. i is a vertical sectional view.y largely diagrammatic, of a portion of the apparatus,

Fig. 2 is an end` view ot a portion ct the feeding mechanism,

Fig. 3 a detail top plan View the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2,

Ll is a 'top 'plan View. partly tion, ot the apparatus,

llig'. 5 is a .icw similar to a modified torni ol apparatus7 rertical sectional i? SQU- l.7 sluaving Y" o A. annals c.. l. .E .ir W nig. '4 1s sectional View on 'Lne ...me i-i e: a sectional .new ou wie lire SFV) oi Tig view of a. por i n ot' the disehai c 'the `eeding apparatus.

ew in transverse cross section ol' a i iecc ot the new product.

Vleterring now 'to these drawings. the apparatus is shown in Figs. l to 4- in that torni in which it is to be used for the production ot a striped sheeting consisting of strips olf two different colors which are of equal width and .alternately disposed. This mill iid neoasia is generally of well-known construction and consists ot suitable frame members 10 in which are mounted rolls 11 and 12. These rolls are of steel and are hollow sothat steam may be introduced into the interior of them as, for instance, by the inlet pipe 13. The journals of thek rolls are mounted in thel trame members and provided with suitable driving gears, referred to generally by the reference character 15, so that the `rolls may be driven simultaneously in opposite direc-` tions -from any desired source of power. rlthese rolls are relatively adjustable toward and away from each other by well-known mechanism and the construction of the mill in general is that ordinarily employed in thisconnection.

vlt/Iou-nted on the frame members opposite .the bite ot the rolls are arms 16,16 which are formed with channels in their opposite faces in which are mounted blocks 17, 17. Threaded rods 18, 18, journaled in bearings 19, 19 mounted on the ends of the arms 16, 16, extend through the channels and also through the blocks 17, 17, so that by rotation of the rods the blocks may be moved in the channels toward and away from Athe rolls. "lbhe rods 18 carry beveled' gears 20 on their outer ends and journaled in brackets 21, 2l, secured to the bearings 19 is a rod 22 carrying bevel gears 23, 23 meshing with the gears 20. 'llhe rod 20 carries a crank 24 by which the threaded rods 18 may be simultaneously actuated to move the blocks 17 along the channels.

Supported between the blocks 17 is a feed block 25 which is substantially7 wedge-shaped in term with its apex extending toward the bite of the rolls. rThe upper and lower faces 26, and 27, respectively, of the block are hollowed out to form compartments 28 and29. r1`he faces 26 and 27 are also formed witha plurality of channels 30 separated by ridges 31 which lie above the faces oit the block. These ridges 31 are of increasing thickness from the rearto the front end oit the block so that the channels 30- are of decreasing width. Mounted on the front tace of the .block and forming the apex ot the wedge,

is anextension 32,. rEhe opposite faces 33 and 34 of the extension are slightly concave so as to fit, the surfalce of the rolls closely, and which form continuations of the ridges 33 these faces are provided with ridges 35 and define channels 36 which are extensions of the channels 30 formed in the faces of the block. The ridges 35 are substantially triangular'in form so that the channels 36 taper considerably in width for a purpose later to bedescribed and the upper Hat faces ofthe ridges 35 lie in contact with the surfaces of the rolls 'so that from the edge 37 ofthe extension 32 `forwardly the rolls and the .extension co-act to form a plurality of closed v tapering passages. Also, as wlll be seen,

from Fig. 2, the ridges 31 and 35 formed in one face of the block and the extension lie in .staggered `relation to the ridges 31 and 35 formed in the other :tace of the block and eX- tension so that at the forwardV edge of the extension the discharge openings of the closed passages communicating with either tace of the block as above referred to are in alternation and the adjacent edges of these passages are separated transverselyl of the block only a slight distance. seen that the discharge end 38 of the extension 32 llies separated a short distance to theside of the point where the surfaces of the rolls lie closest to each other so that the distance between the surfaces of the rolls at the point oit nearest approach is less than the thickness of the edge 33. y

lin making use of the apparatus the rolls 11 and 12 are relatively adjusted so that the distance between their surfaces corresponds to the thickness ot the sheet which is to be made. yllhe block 25 is then moved so that the faces of the extension lie ink contact with the lsurfaces of the rolls. A. supply of rubber compound of the desired color is then placed in the compartments 28 and 29. 'llhe rolls, as has previously been explained, are steam heated as is also theblock by introducing steam in the passage 39 formed therethrough. Upon. the rolls being rotated the rubber is fed from the compartments 28 and 29 down through the channels in the `extension 32 where it is discharged lin the form of separate strips. rlFhe strips formed from the supply of rubber in one compartmentvare kept separate from the strips formed from thesupplyin the other compartment, and these preformed strips4 are discharged substantially in a'plane from the end of the extension. 'l`he series oit strips then passes outwardly through the rolls and during such l"passage the strips are subjected to pressure bythe heated rolls so that they are caused to spread laterally'suicientlylto bring their adjacent edges into contact and unite. The pressure which produces this action is applied in a direction normal to the faces of the strips but has a c 'in a direction parallel to these faces, or, in other words, normal to the edges which .are to vbe united. The strips are dischar ed with their adjacent edges so close toget er that the pressure required to cause these adjacent edges to unite is not' sufficient to produce a substantial deformation. Asthe ma# chine operates, therefore, a sheet is formed vconsisting. oit a plurality of strips formed of the compounds 'placed in the Itwo compartments and these strlps are continuously unitr lit 'will also be omponent which is exerted',

ed immediately after their formation to produce a sheet.l Conse uent'ly with this machine the plastic ru ber compounds are formed into sheets and in the process of formation the striped eiect is produced. 1t

will be understood that it would be impossible to place supplies of the two different materials of which the sheet is to be made in the same compartment and form a striped sheet therefrom, since as the rollsrotate the mass of compound is moved about in the compartment and if this mass were made of different materials the result would be the forniation of a mottled sheet in which it would be impossible to confine either kind of rubber to a distinct area.

In the embodiment of the machine illustrated the sheet produced consists of rubber of two different colors and the feed block and its extension are formed to produce'a sheet having alternate stripes of equal width. However, it is possible to design a feed block having its feed channels properly arranged to produce a sheet having stripes of any desired width and it is also possible to arrange this feed block so that the stripes vary in width throughout the width of the sheet. Also the feed block may have its feed channels arranged so that the stripes appearing in the sheet of one color. may be of different width from the stripes of the other color. By suitably designing this block a striped sheet of any desired character may be produced without difficulty and in every ease the sheet is homogeneous throughout, is of uniform thickness, and the stripes are accurately defined .and the edges clean cut throughout its length.

lVhile I have illustrated a feed block arranged so as to form two compartments so as to produce a. sheet material consisting of stripes of two colors, it is clear that these compartments may in turn be subdivided and supplies of different materials placed in the subdivisions thereof. This makes it possible to secure a greater variation in the color combinations in the finished product. Also by properly adjusting the relative positions of the rolls 11 and 12 and the position ot' the block 25 in relation thereto, it is possible to producesheets of varying thicknesses. Thisadjustment is easily made by the use of the means provided for the purpose and previously described. i In Figs. 5 to 9, inclusive, I have illustrated a modified form ofthe apparatus in which the material is positively fed from the supplies by instrumentalities other than the rolls.y In this apparatus, illustrated somewhat diagrammatically in the drawings, the mill is provided with the usual rolls 11 and 12, and a feed block 40 of wedge shape is mounted to cooperate with these rolls. This feed block has an extension 41, the faces of which conform closely to the contour of the rolls. Formed through the feed block is a plurality of passages 42 'of substantially oblong cross section but tapering from their rear ends 43 to their discharge outlets 44. At the rear end of the block is a box 45 messia which serves as a steam jacket for a series of cylindrical feeding chambers 46 with openings 47. rIhese chambers have conical forward ends 48 which communicate with one or more of the passages 42. In the illustrated machine each chamber 46 communicates with three of the passages 42 but if desired a single feed mechanism presently to be explained may be used to feed one or any greater number of the passages 42. In the feed block shown the passages are formed in two series, one series extending upwardly from the discharge end to the inlet, the other downwardly and the feeding devices as, illustrated in Fig. 5, also are arranged in an upper and lower series with each feeding device supplying three of the passages 42.

Nithin each feed chamber 46 near its forward end is a spider 49 in which is the forward bearing for a shaft 50, the rear end of which extends beyond the box 45 and carries a gear 51 driven by a worm 52 on a shaft which extends throughout the width of the box. This shaft 50 carries a screw blade 53 and when the rubber compound is placed in the vfeed chamber through the inlet opening 47 the rotation of the shaft 50 forces this material forwardly through the cone 48 into the passages 42 which open into the cone. The box 45 is heated by means of steam introduced through a pipe 54 and withdrawn through a pipe 55. rIhis steam serves to heat the feeding chambers 46 and keep the rubber compound therein in plastic condition so that it will be properly fed. The block 40 may also be heated by steam introduced into the passageway 56 and the extension 41 will be kept at the proper temperature by reason of its contact with the surfaces of the heated rolls 11 and 12.

It will be seen from Fig. 9 that the passages 42 have their discharge outlets 44 lying in a plane so that the strips formed by forcing the plastic rubber mass through these passages also lie in a plane. The passages have the proper dimensions so as to form strips which correspond to the width of the stripes in the finished sheet and the intervals indicated at 57 between a pair of adjacent strips is very small. Consequently when these strips are discharged from the extension 41 and then fed between the rolls l1 and 12 sutiicient pressure is exerted by these rolls so that the strips will spread laterally and their adjacent edges will imite. In the apparatus illustrated there are shown eight feeding devices, each of which produces three strips. 'Ihe stri )s produced by a vertical pair of feeding devices such as 58 and 49 are discharged so as to lie in alternation,v

this arrangement being repeated throughout the width of the block. It will'A be seen that it is possible, by means of this device to make a sheet containing stripes of eight different colors, and in the finished sheet each color` itl messie will appear in threestripes located side by Side but separated by single strips of another color. llf, hoivever, it should be desired to arrange the device so as to make a sheet consisting of a plurality of strips. each of which has a different color` then the feeding device would be changed so that each feeding device would supply a single passage and With such an arrangement any color variations desired could be produced. The modifications in design necessary to produce a sheet of any desired characteristics. however. Will be clear from a description of the ap paratus as given above. The feeding devices associated with the vblock are preferably arranged so that the block and these devices may be placed in various positions of ady iustment relative to the rolls so that rubber sheets of different thicknesses may be used, but it Will'be seen that the principles of the invention as embodied in either type of device above described will remain the same; that is. in each case a rubber sheet is made from a plastic mass of rubber compound and in its formation it is given a striped appearance. This is brought about by making the sheet of a series of strips of the desired different colors and causing these strips to be united into a single'sheet immediatelv upon their formation. The sheet consequently has no portions of varying thickness and bv reason of the manner inwhichth'e strips of which it is composed are formed the stripes of color appearing in the final sheet may have any desired variation in Width, and the arrangement of the different colors may be according to any desired pattern.

ln Fig. 10, l have illustrated in cross section a piece of one type of striped rubber product which mav be made by the process above described. ln this piece of rubber. three different colors have been used and strips sheeted out from the plastic rubber masses have been united autogenously along their adjacent edges. In this portion of the sheet the stripe designated is made of purple rubber, 61 of green` and 62 of red, and the strips have been arranged across the piece from left to right as follows: purple, green, red, ygreen, purple. red. This order of succession, however, is merely typical of many others which could be used, and it is clear, lof course, that there is no limitation to three colors, as shown. By the apparatus which is illustrated in Fig. 5, it

-is possible to make a product` in which there are stripesof eight different colors, but by simple modification in the apparatus it would be possible to produce a rubber product in which each stripe was made of a ditferent vcolored material. The apparatus consequently is capable of bein-g employed for the production of a large number of different products, and, furthermore, it is not necessary that the stripes appearing in the final sheet should be of uniform Width, since the orifice through which the plastic rubber compound is delivered -to the rolls may be given any width that may be desired. This method and apparatus for making the striped rubber product, therefore, offers the Widest possible latitude as to the kind of material which will be produced, since the number of colors which may bc employed, the arrangement of the colored stripes in the product, andthe width of these stripes, may be variedwithin Wide limits.

While the method and apparatus has s0 far been described in connection with the formation of sheets of rubber, it will be. clear that it may be used without substantial modication in the process of rubberizing sheets of textile material either on one or both faces. l'n the processes ordinarily used for that purpose the Web of cloth is passed over a roll near which is mounted a knife or doctor. The plastic rubber compound is then placed at one side of the doctor so that as the cloth is drawn between the roll and the edge of the doctor a certain amount of rubber may be carried along With it, depending on the spacing of the doctor from the surface of the roll. By a proper application of the'principles of this invention the rubber may be applied tothe cloth so as to produce a striped effect. `For this purpose a feed block Will'be used having closed passages formed through it and these channels will communicate with supplies of the rubber compound Which may be in a plastic condition and fed positively through the channels 'by suitable means, as, for instance. the driven screw conveyors illustrated in Fig. 5, or else the rubber used may be in a semi-liquid condition such that it Will flow by gravity through the channels. The channels will be located in the block so as to produce strips of the proper Width and in the proper location, and the feed block will be located so that Ithe discharge end of the channels lies close to the surface of the fabric as the latter is passing over theV face of a roll. As the rubber is discharged from the ends of the passages the strips formed are laid on `the surface of the moving web and the latter may then be advantageously passed over a heating coil so as to dry the rubber. sible to pass the cloth with the rubber strips laid upon it through heated rolls which also serve to dry the strips and further assist in causing their edges to unite so that the rubber forms a continuous sheet. When the rubber is used in a semi-liquid condition,

however, the strips laid on the Web Will have a sutiicient fluidity to cause their edges to flow together and unite so as to form a continuous rubber facing on the cloth. Also Tt is also pos-v dit the rubber in the strips so made will tiorr into the interstices between the threads ci the cloth to a sufficient extent to unite the rubber facing firmly to the cloth. llihe feed bloclr used in this connection may have any appropriate design as may be required by the wid 'h ot the strips, the thickness ot the rubber coating to be applied and the arrangement of the colors in the coating. rthe details o4S his design Will be clear troni a consideration of the forms oi feed block previously described. i

lt is to be understood that the striped rubber product produced by the methods and apparatus previously described is not in the final forni in which it will be used 'but inust be subjected to the usual vulcanu izing processes. These processes7 however, forni no 'part of the present invention and are not described herein. Also, it is inin nieteriali so, lar as this invention is conm cerneds as 'to the composition ot the rubber compounds' which are employed in orining the striped rubber product. llhese coinpounds will be prepared by Well-known methods and will here colors suchas may be required-by the pattern of the finished materiel. preparation oi such colored rubber compounds is Well-known and has5 therefore` not been specifically .set Jforth.

method or itcrniing striped sheets ot rubber which comprises maintaining two supplies of ditlerent colored rubber adjacent the bite oi a pair ott rolls., one supply being maintained in contact with the surface oi one ci the rolls, the other supply in con.- tact with `the surface oi `the other roll, simultaneously forming; a plurality oi strips or' rubber drawn 'from each ci `the supplies and arranged in alternation, laying` these strips side by side as they are termed, and subjecting them to pressure to cause the edges or adjacent strips to unite. f

2. il. method of forming striped sheets of rubber which comprises maintaining' two supplies ot did'erent. colored rubber adi scent the bite oi a pair of rolls, one supply beingP maintained in Contact with the surface of one oi' the rolls, the other supply in contact with the surface of the other roll, simultaneously forming a plurality of strips of rubber drawn from each of the supplies and arranged in alternation. and in the forming operation laying the strips side by side substantially in a plane and uniting the strips into a continuous Sheet by the application of pressure.

3. 'metbod of forming striped sheets ot rubber which comprises maintaining two supplies of different colored rubber in separated superposed relation, simultaneously forming a plurality of strips or" rubber from each supply, laying these strips alterthey are formed, and subjecting nately as to cause the adjacent edges them to pressure to unite.

et, A method of orrningstriped sheets ot rubber which. comprises maintaining; 'two supplies of diderent colored rubber adjacent the bite oi a pair of rolls, one supply being maintained in contact with the surface of one of the rolls5 the other supply in contact with the surface of the other rollj siiiiultaner ously forming a plurality of strips o: rubber drawn from each ot the supplies and arranged in alternation, and subjecting all of the strips to pressure While they' are maintained substantially in a plane te scuse their adjacent edges to unite.J thereby producing a continuous striped sheet.

' 5. A method of forming striped sheets of rubber which comprises feeding' rubber troni 'plurality superposed suppliess similitaneously forming' separate strips tnereoit lying substantially in ay plane priming' between the supplies, and uniting these strips into a continuous sheet by the simultaneous action of heat and pressure., s

6. method ot forming striped sheets oit' rubber which comprises maintaining" two supplies et d iiierent colored rubberadjacent the bite ot a pair ot rolls7 one supply being maintained contact with the surface o one ci the rolls, the other supply in contact `with the surface of the other rolli feedingl rubber :troni the supplies, forming the rubber so fed into a plurality oit' strips arranged according; to 'the pattern to be given the iinished sheet and lying substantially in a plane, and then uniting these strips into a sheet by the simultaneous action of heat and pressure.

7. A method of forming striped sheets of rubber which comprises rnaintainingl two supplies ot different colored rubber in superposed relation, forming a plureiity ot' individuel strips drawn from the supplies7 discharging` these strips as they are formed substantially in a plane with the strips arranged according to a predetermined pattern, and then subjecting' the strips simultaneously to pressure to censo them to unite along their adiacent edges.

8. A method of forming striped rubber sheeting= which comprises maintaining a supply of rubber in Contact Withthe tace ot one of a pair ot rolls and' a different supplyin contact `with the face of the other et the pair of rolls, forming a plurality of strips ot rubber from the rst supply, and' leading these strips in contact with the first roll to the bite of the rolls. forming a plurality of strips ot rubber trom the second supply and leading these strips in Contact with the surface ot the second roll through the bite of the rolls. the strips from the different supplies being arranged in alternation, and, at the bite of the rollsa exerting pressure on lGtl lil@

lll]

mesme the strips to cause their adjacenty edges to unite to form a continuous sheeting 9. A method of forming striped sheets of rubber which comprises feeding rubber from a plurality of separate superposed supplies, forming strips of the rubber so fed lying substantially in a plane, While maintaining the rubber at an elevated temperature during the feeding and strip-forming operations, and uniting the strips into a Continuous sheet by the simultaneous action of heat and pressure Without substantially deforming the strips. i y

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

moon STEIN. 

